HC Deb 19 March 1998 vol 308 cc679-80W
Mr. Gapes

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the United Kingdom will continue to impose an arms embargo on Afghanistan in line with the EU' s Common Position of 17 December 1996. [35501]

Mr. Fatchett

We remain committed to the EU arms embargo against Afghanistan which the UK interprets as covering all goods and technology entered on Part III to schedule 1 to the Export of Goods Order 1994, as amended.

Following consultation with this Department and the Ministry of Defence, the Department of Trade and Industry recently approved a licence for the export of mine clearance equipment for use by the United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Assistance to Afghanistan in its demining operations. The grant of this licence is for humanitarian purposes, and is consistent with the purpose of the embargo.